A
troublesome household pest could soon provide healthy benefits to
humans. Tissue from the brains and nervous systems of the common
cockroach contain bacteria
fighting properties that may help banish
serious infections. As a result, “superbugs” like MRSA and
E-Coli can be destroyed more than 90 percent of the time without
damaging human cells.

Researchers from the School of
Veterinary Medicine at the UK's University of Nottingham identified
up to nine different molecules in the tissue of cockroaches and
locusts that were toxic to bacteria.

The team of scientists
has discovered that the bugs secrete their own antimicrobials and is
currently studying specific properties of the antibacterial
molecules.

Simon Lee, a postgraduate researcher and Dr.
Dr Naveed Khan, an Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology,
presented their findings at the Society for General Microbiology’s
meeting this week according to physorg.com.

"Insects
often live in unsanitary and unhygienic environments where they
encounter many different types of bacteria. It is therefore logical
that they have developed ways of protecting themselves against
micro-organisms," said Lee.

The potency of the
antibacterial molecules found in these insects are now being tested
on various superbugs including Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and
Burkholderia.

"We hope that these molecules could
eventually be developed into treatments for E. coli and MRSA
infections that are increasingly resistant to current drugs. These
new antibiotics could potentially provide alternatives to currently
available drugs that may be effective but have serious and unwanted
side effects."

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This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Actually they get those (and tickets to sporting events, concerts, etc.) regardless of whether or not they actually prescribe the drugs. I have tons of notepads and pens and have been to Phillies/Eagles games thanks to those pharma reps. :)